Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images North America
Imagine you’re a woman trying to ‘break in’ to the male-dominant sport like NASCAR. Beyond that, you’re the youngest woman to ever do that … and hold your own in your first season. You would think that the press and major TV networks would be pushing that story to the forefront, especially if you were articulate and considerate (which you are). But no one says a word. Instead they focus on another female driver, one who has the financial backing of one of NASCAR’s most significant corporate sponsors. She gets mentioned in every article, even when she spins or wrecks and you finish first. She gets camera time during the race even when you’ve been racing better and are in front of her.
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Posted on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 7:50 AM in THE WORLD, YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments
Nothing too profound here today, but I’m just curious about how you see what matters to youth’s clothing and style choices change as they make school transitions. Have you observed some truly awkward trends that teens have tried (please don’t remind me of my leisure suit in middle school or ‘body wave’ perm my senior year) en masse at your local high school?
Yesterday I sat next to the 13 year old son of a friend and I did a double-take to make sure it was him and not Justin Bieber. He look just like the Biebs – hair crowded forward around his face, white jacket, exact clothes (he looked like the photo), and the shoes (very important!) were one of Bieber’s favs. I chuckled and thought “It’s all going to change next year when you head to high school.” 
Based on watching countless boys make that transition in my local school, they soon cut their hair short, take on the more industrial approach to style, and wear nicer button down shirts. Then, four years later at college he’ll sport as much facial hair as possible, wear old T-shirts from the local thrift shore, and sport an abundance of university apparel. And sweat pants.
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Posted on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 6:32 AM in THE WORLD. No comments
The youth of Norway dominated world headlines this summer after a lone gunman showed up at a youth camp on remote Utøya Island in southern Norway and began a shooting rampage that left over 70 dead. The horrific details shocked a country during its holiday season with a peaceful reputation built from hosting the Nobel Peace Prize and from mediating conflict negotiations between other countries.
Youth ministry is new and growing in Norway, a highly religious country where 81% of Norway’s 4.8 million people are members of the national Lutheran church yet only three percent attend services regularly. In 2003, the government gave churches the responsibility to develop a systematic and continuous religious education for all baptized children and youth.[1] And youth ministry vaulted to the forefront of the conversation in Norway.
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Posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 6:25 AM in THE WORLD, YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments
This is a repost from Feb. 21, 2011.
One time I attended a seminar on today’s youth culture and one of the attendees asked whether how youth were being described was also true for older (and she meant very old) generations as well. Perhaps what we say is true about ‘today’s teens’ is true for the culture as a whole? Seriously, haven’t you noticed how connected to a cell phone senior citizens are too? We already know they watch more television than youth do. What if other aspects or ‘findings’ of research were equally true for older people? The big problem with adolescent research is that it often fails to answer the question, Is it particular to adolescence?”
In my doctoral work at Purdue (go Boilers!), I had the privilege of learning about adolescent research from Dr. Thomas J. Berndt, one of the leading authorities on child development and peer influence. Dr. Berndt ingrained this question into our minds, citing numerous descriptions of adolescence that were equally true for adults.
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Posted on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 at 5:38 AM in THE WORLD, YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments
One time I attended a seminar on today’s youth culture and one of the attendees asked whether how youth were being described was also true for older (and she meant very old) generations as well. Perhaps what we say is true about ‘today’s teens’ is true for the culture as a whole? Seriously, haven’t you noticed how connected to a cell phone senior citizens are too? We already know they watch more television than youth do. What if other aspects or ‘findings’ of research were equally true for older people? The big problem with adolescent research is that it often fails to answer the question, Is it particular to adolescence?”
In my doctoral work at Purdue (go Boilers!), I had the privilege of learning about adolescent research from Dr. Thomas J. Berndt, one of the leading authorities on child development and peer influence. Dr. Berndt ingrained this question into our minds, citing numerous descriptions of adolescence that were equally true for adults.
read more…
Posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 at 7:34 AM in YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments
I ran across a blog that cited recent well-chronicled research showing an increased number of teens in the United States wait to get their driver’s license. Less than half of the country’s 17 year old’s had licenses and only 30% of 16-year-old’s did, a drop from 44.7% of 16-year-old’s in 1988. As is the case with widespread social trends, there are numerous issues contributing to this change. Here are a few cited as contributing factors to this change:
- Schools have been cutting back on offering drivers’ education classes and charging more for the classes that are offered. The time and cost have made it less convenient.
- Summer schedules for teens fill with other activities, making a month’s worth of driving instruction less possible than it would have been 10 years. It may not be a major factor, but it does play a role for some families.
- States have implemented graduated licenses that delayed what having a license allowed. For instance, in many states, a 16-year-old can drive, but couldn’t drive with non-family members in the car. So, the social benefits for having a car are quite different from a decade ago. However, even once a teen gets a license, he/she is limited in whether they can “haul” – carry non-family members.
- The digital age makes driving less desirable. Some research supports this. Youth can connect virtually, so having a car to get with friends is less necessary.
- Youth are involved in more activities and are used to being driven around by parents, so why drive until later?
- Some anecdotal research suggests that environmental concerns play a role. Surprised? That warrants some future exploration.
- Another explanation is that this is symptomatic of the extended adolescence of our current Western world, a development reality called “Emerging Adulthood.” Since parents are more enabling of teens, they are, then, less “ready” to drive. And, then, this is seen as being less mature, less ready to be responsible.
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Posted on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at 7:24 AM in YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments
“The problem with teens today is…. well…. uh…… well SOMETHING is the problem. It sure looks like it to me.” I sometimes hear this from adults, but often it’s unclear what the actual problem is. And, despite encouraging facts about teens today, it seems like we can’t escape thinking there are a LOT of problems with youth today. Do any of the following sound familiar?
- In regard to sexual desire they exercise no self-restraint
- They are fickle in their desires
- They are apt to be carried away by their impulses
- They regard themselves as omniscient and are positive in their assertions
- If they commit a fault, it is always on the side of excess.
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Posted on Monday, September 20th, 2010 at 5:42 AM in THE WORLD, YOUTH MINISTRY. No comments
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